Before Departure

TODAY IS THE DAY...and I still can't believe it. I'm waiting for it to finally hit me that I'm going to Thailand, but for some reason it still hasn't. I just have this real relaxed peace about it all.

Although, I think when I get on that plane, as soon as a baby starts wailing, or the person to my right starts picking his/her nose (you'd be surprise how often that happens on a plane- lack of tissues?), or the person to my left starts snoring...that will be my wake up call! :) haha

Please pray today for:

1. Safe travels (no emergency landings, please! and making all connections- some connections I only have 1.5 hours of layover which is cutting it close)

2. Great seat-mates

3. Luggage to arrive on time

4. For health and rest while on plane

5. For sanity- I have about 33.5 hours of travel over the next few days
6. For my mom and family back home (especially my mom as this is the longest stretch we've been away from each other)
7. That I DO NOT COMPLAIN about the heat when I get there (there's nothing worse than a grumbling, complaining short-termer, to discourage the people around them- please pray that I learn to appreciate sweating, haha)

I will arrive in Bangkok on Friday morning, and will be met by a friendly faced missionary from the UK. Her name is Caroline. Please pray for her as well. I am one out of 20 other short term individuals/teams that has applied to come to Thailand this summer and which she has had to help coordinate. She's had a busy schedule lately! But she's amazing at what she does.

Just wanted to leave you all with another reason to celebrate this week. I was reading in Matthew 28 today (I'm celebrating an early Easter because I won't be Stateside for it) and it says, in verse 5, "The angel said to the women, 'Don't be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here. He has risen from the dead as he said he would.'" KAPOW! What a way to end 3 days of what you thought would be the end of your life with a God that does as He promised He would. He said He would rise from the dead and save us from all our sins, and He did. I hope you can rest in His promises this week, as I hope to.

Psalm 119:50, "When I suffer, this comforts me: Your promise gives me life." And so it does! :)

Well, I'm off! Thank you again for all your amazing prayers and support! :) 

Are you ready to take this journey with me?

Are you "excited"?

So I probably just broke like 10 blogging rules by posting 2 times within the last 3 hours. And this is my 3rd time! Just accept it- I'm a rebel blogger :)

Common question: "Are you excited?" I get that a lot before a mission trip. To be honest, I'm not usually when people ask me. The right word would be: exhausted. Mentally, physically, and spiritually I feel like I'm clinging on the edge of a cliff about to fall into an unknown world.

But, as of right now...I am incredibly excited! And I think it's a gift from God. This past week has been an "ugly" part of this trip (and yes, I'm learning preparation before a trip is still "part" of the trip). Let's just say when I'm stressed, I'm not a pretty person. I act a lot like Tom from Tom and Jerry. I can never win. Everything is just 10 times worse and I'm running after something I can never catch.

But at some point this past week, I felt like I just needed to stop. Stop all my hysterics and just go for a run (and I wouldn't say I "enjoy" running). But I just needed time alone outside with just the road ahead, and the sky above, and freedom in the form of cool air rushing into my lungs and stress pouring out. And time with my God that isn't confined to my suitcase or to-do lists or to figuring out how a blog works. So, I ran. And I ran not only to the creek down our road, but into the arms of the God that I so desperately need, but so easily leave behind when the stress piles up. But that's when it hit me again. God's reminder that this trip isn't about me and about my lists or to-do's, but about Him. That's it. And I feel so much peace. It took something that never belonged to me, and put it back in the hands of the one it belongs to- God.

So am I excited now? Yes. I'm elated to take part in a trip that belongs to God and is about God. And I'm excited to be sharing in this journey with all of you. Because that's what this trip is about...all of us going together and sharing in loving much on people and in making much of God.

The Good and Ugly...My Weakness, His Strength

So this is where I'm honest with all of you. This blog isn't just meant for the good, but also for the ugly side of this trip- when my human-ness wins (or loses might be the better word) and I realize all that's left is to give it all to God and lean on His grace. I'm an imperfect human serving a perfect God. What can I say, except that I'm going to make mistakes. But I'm also excited to take you all with me on this trip and to share both the good and the ugly with you. I hope it joins us together in thanking God all the more for His grace and desire to use us despite our weaknesses.

He is indeed our strength. "Each time He said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me...for when I am weak, then I am strong."- 2 Cor. 12:9-10

Finances/Visa, Sticker/Candy Drive, and an Apology

Praise the Lord! In only a way that God could provide, He brought the money together for this trip in less than 4 weeks! I am in complete awe of Him and how He surprises and loves us. Thank you to all of you who have supported me financially and who have also prayed with me as we trusted the Lord to provide. And to surprise me even more, my visa went through the Thai embassy in Washington D.C. speedy quick! Please praise the Lord with me for these prayer requests answered.

Also, thank you to those of you who donated stickers and candy! I know that e-mail was sent out on short notice and many of you did not read it in time to donate. I'm sorry about that :( But a suitcase full stickers and candy (50 lbs!) has already been filled. So thank you to all of you who helped with that! God has been working amazingly!

Lastly, I'd like to apologize to all of you for not getting word out sooner about this trip. I'm sorry about the delay and lack of communication on my side. I can't do this trip without all of you beside me, and with your prayers covering me. You are in essence coming with me in spirit and ready to share Christ's love with the nations (well, 2 nations- Thailand and Taiwan!) :) Thank you for all the encouragement and love you've given me thus far. Please feel free to email while I'm away (but please give me about a week or so to answer back). My email is faithea12@yahoo.com. Many thanks for everything! Keep looking for further updates!!